Puzzle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIE SEGAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICIEION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,727, dated December8, 1896- Application filed May 25, 1896. Serial No. 592,962. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ELLIE SEGAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of puzzles wherein blocks bearing'symbols or designations are employed, the object being to arrange theblocks in certain predetermined relations.

My object is to provide an improved and cheap puzzle of the classdescribed, and one `which will require great skill for its solution.

The invention consists of certain novel features and combinations, aswill appear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan view of the puzzle-box,the cover and blocks being removed and the different p0- sitions of theboundary-strip beingshown in full and dotted lines; Fig. 2, a sideelevation showing the boundary-strip in intermediate position; and Fig.3, a plan view with the blocks in position and the boundary-strip shownas defining the smallest square.

My puzzle is designed as a test of ingenuity in placing numbered blocksin such relation ,that the numbers of the blocks in the variouslines,columns, and diagonals wi1l,when added together, amount to apredetermined sum, which will be the same whatever way the numbers areadded.

In order to provide for several different combinations, I employ a noveldevice for defining a series oi' squares of different areas in asuitable box.

A designates a square shallow box which is adapted for the reception ofa series of block or cubes B, numbered from l to 81, respectively. Onlyone face of each cube is numbered, the other faces being left blank. Thebox is provided with sides C. Two sides of the box are also providedwith an inner stifEening-strip D, which projects up above them, leavinga ledge E, on which the cover (not shown) rests when the puzzle isboxed.

F designates what I term a boundarystrip. This strip, when restingagainst the sides of the box, acts as astittener, the same -as the stripl), but it is only secured to the box at its ends which are diagonallyopposite. Each side of this boundary-strip is formed of three sectionsa, b, and c, exibly hinged together. The two smaller sections a and bare in the present instance ot the same size, and each is of a lengthequal to that of two of the blocks. The larger section is of the samelength as five blocks. The larger' sections are hinged together at thepoint e. In the present instance I construct the boundary-strip ofcardboard, but it is obvious that other materials might be used. It isalso obvious that the sides of the strip could be formed of a greater orlesser number of sections, and of different lengths, if desirable.

By the employment of the boundary-strip it is possible to dene threesquares G, H, and I of different areas and adapted to contain adifferent number of blocks.

Having described the invention I, will proceed with an account of themanner in which it is used.

When the boundary-strip is fully extended, as shown in full lines inFig. 1, square G is defined. In this instance the object is to arrangeblocks l to 81 in such order that each line, column and diagonal willadd up to three hundred and sixty-nine. lVhen the boundary-strip ismoved inwardly and square I-I defined, the object is to arrange blocks 1to 4.9 within the square in such order that each line, column, anddiagonal will amount to one hundred and seventy-live.

When the strip is moved to deflne'square I, the object is to arrangeblocks 1 to 25 withinthe square in such order that each line, column,and diagonal will, when added, amount to sixty-five. p

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. In apuzzle, the combination with a box or receptacle,of a movableboundary-strip having portions connected to the box and a free portionbeing adaptedpfor manipulation to deiine within. said box geometricalJigures of different areas.

IOO

2. In a puzzle, the combination with a box free portion consisting `ofsections flexibly connected together, said strip being adapted formanipulation to define Within the box geometrical figures of differentareas.

3. In a puzzle,the combination With a square box or receptacle, of amovable boundarystrip having its ends connected to opposite Corners ofthe box, said strip having a free portion consisting of a series ofsections flexibly connected together, and being adapted for manipulationto define Within the box squares of different areas.

4L. In a puzzle, the combination with a series of blocks bearing symbolsor designations and adapted for predetermined relative ar- ELLIE SEGAR.

Witnesses:

Mrs. E. J. SMITH, JOHN MOLAUGHLIN.

